Libby Johnson and Sue Merris of the Triangle Branch hold the WILPF banner at a community vigil on January 8, 2020. NC State Representative Verla Insko is on the right (white coat and sunglasses). Photo by Liz Wildermann.

By Lucy Lewis
Triangle WILPF

February 2020

Following the Trump-ordered assassination of Iran’s General Qassim Soleimani, rallies and demonstrations have been held across the nation. The Triangle (NC) WILPF branch organized a community vigil on January 8, 2020, calling for: No War with Iran! Money for Human Needs, Not War! and for a halt to these aggressive actions that could cost the lives of countless Iranians, Iraqis, and Americans, as well as others caught up in the violence.

More than 50 community members and UNC students rallied at Peace and Justice Plaza in Chapel Hill, historic site of so many protests against the endless wars that the US is waging. WILPF was joined by the Orange County Peace Coalition, Veterans for Peace, Hillsborough Progressives Taking Action, members of the Community Church UUCH, Binkley Baptist, Friends Meeting and other congregations, and anti-racist activists from Pittsboro.

North Carolina State Representative Verla Insko, Anna Richards, president of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro NAACP, and longtime WILPF member Ruth Zalph addressed the crowd. WILPF members circulated petitions to our NC Congressional delegation that read, “We support legislation that will prevent the offensive use of the military in Iran without prior congressional authorization” and included Congressional phone numbers for protestors to call.

Press coverage included the local CBS affiliatean online local paperand the UNC student newspaper. Additional photos can be seen in the album on the Triangle WILPF FB page.
 
For more information, contact Lucy Lewis, Triangle WILPF, llewis2001@earthlink.net